Legislative Session

LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 16, 2025 PUBLIC OFFICIALS Present: Council President D'Shawn M. Doughty, Council Vice President Angela M. Blake, Councilwoman April R. Jackson, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell IN ATTENDANCE Mayor Randy Taylor, City Administrator Andy Kitzrow, City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche CALL TO ORDER The City Council convened in Legislative Session on June 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS/PLEDGE President Doughty welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided the emergency exit instructions. He wished the City Clerk a Happy Birthday then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION - Rev. Dr. Vaughan Hayden - Trinity United Methodist Church Reverend Dr. Vaughan Hayden from Trinity United Methodist was called forward to provide the Invocation. PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA City Clerk Julie English presented the legislative agenda. President Doughty called for a motion to adopt the legislative agenda as presented. April R. Jackson motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 5-0. CONSENT AGENDA Ms. English presented the Consent Agenda. President Doughty called for a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Michele R. Gregory motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Manufacturing Exemption - Pepsi Bottling Venture, LLC(2024) 1  • Manufacturing Exemption - Spartech, LLC(2024) PUBLIC HEARING President Doughty directed anyone wishing to comment during the public hearing to stand and be sworn in by the City Clerk. No members of the public were sworn in. • Annexation Request - Pine Way - Pohanka Kia (a/k/a Pohanka 1) - 2nd Reading President Doughty opened the public hearing at 6:06 p.m. Having no comments, the hearing was closed at 6:06 p.m. Resolution No. 3382 - to annex certain land to be known as "Pine Way - Pohanka Kia Annexation", as described in the Property Description and Annexation Plat attached and incorporated as exhibits herein, consisting of 2.954 acres more or less, into the City of Salisbury and to provide for the terms and conditions of the annexation April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. RESOLUTIONS – Presented by Ms. English • Sustainability Advisory Committee Resolution No. 3406 - Re-appointing Charly Sager for term ending June 2028 Michele R. Gregory motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Disability Advisory Committee Resolution No. 3407 - re-appointing Ron Pagano for term ending June 2028 Angela M. Blake motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Friends of Poplar Hill Board of Directors Resolution No. 3408 - appointing Robert Graham-Miles for term ending June 2028 Angela M. Blake motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Enterprise Zone Eligibility - 200 Cypress St Resolution No. 3409 - declaring Opportunity Street LLC eligible to receive Enterprise Zone benefits for property located at 200 Cypress St, Salisbury, MD. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Enterprise Zone Eligibility - Westwood Commerce LLC at 1610 Westwood Resolution No. 3410 - declaring Westwood Commerce I LLC eligible to receive Enterprise Zone benefits for property located at 1610 Westwood Dr, Salisbury, MD. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Enterprise Zone Eligibility - Westwood Commerce LLC at 1630 Westwood Resolution No. 3411 - declaring Westwood Commerce I LLC eligible to receive Enterprise Zone benefits for property located at 1630 Westwood Dr, Salisbury, MD. Michele R. Gregory motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0. 2  • Pohanka 2 Annexation (Chestnut Way) - 1st Reading Resolution No. 3412 - to annex certain land to be known as “Chestnut Way – Pohanka Kia Annexation”, as described in the Property Description and Annexation Plat attached and incorporated as exhibits herein, consisting of 5.280 acres more or less, into the City of Salisbury and to provide for the terms and conditions of the annexation Angela M. Blake motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Establishment of the City of Salisbury Adopt-A-Road Program Resolution No. 3413 - to establish an Adopt-A-Road Program. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Union Negotiations Summary Resolution No. 3414 - to confirm the City's authority to execute the "side letters" with all three collective bargaining units. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. ORDINANCES- presented by Ms. Bosche • Ordinance to Amend Title 5 of the Salisbury City Code (Chesapeake Franchise Agreement) - 2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2943 - amending Title 5 of the Salisbury City Code, entitled "Business Licenses and Regulations," to add Chapter 5.23 to authorize and govern a gas franchise agreement. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Budget Amendment to increase funding for Attorney Fees for Special Counsel - 1st Reading Ordinance No. 2944 - approving a budget amendment of the FY26 General Fund budget to appropriate additional funds required for legal services. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Budget Ordinance - Naylor Mill Water Main Extension - 1st Reading Ordinance No. 2945 - authorizing a budget amendment to appropriate funds for water main infrastructure needed to accommodate future growth in the area of Naylor Mill Road and Jersey Road. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENT The following public comments were heard: Speaker #1 supported the Adopt-A-Road ordinance. She questioned council spending, relating to apparel costs, mileage, and transactions on purchase cards. Speaker #2 discussed the Adopt-a-Road program, noting its past success in other communities. He emphasized they needed only basic supplies and simply wanted to help keep Salisbury clean. Speaker #3 criticized the council’s lack of transparency, questioned closed meetings and unclear budget items, and urged rewriting the planning commission ordinance. Speaker #4 encouraged the Council president to act independently and urged the city not to 3  charge for community prayer vigils or outreach events at Unity Square. • Speaker #5 advised that council discussions, like the Adopt -a-Road program, go through work sessions for full information sharing and consensus before reaching legislative session. • Speaker #6 echoed speaker #5 and criticized the side conversations being had for the union. • Speaker #7 supported the Adopt-a-Road resolution, suggesting the city to allow volunteers and businesses to improve unused planters on Fitzwater Street. ADJOURNMENT/CONVENE INTO WORK SESSION The Legislative Session was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk _________________________________ Council President 4